Vol.5 No.16 DoM E Message
Spiritual Gift of the Week
We pray for the grace of holiness that we may become more like the Holy Family,
Mary, Joseph and Jesus.
Spiritual Instruction of the Week
Our prayers of love are God’s gifts!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Beautiful Daughters of Mary,
In our family, Dad is known as ‘the giver of true Christmas gifts!’ He enjoys giving gifts, especially during this season of joy. He cares about what he gives. His gifts are occasionally frivolous, but most often they are practical, and always meaningful. He may give a toolkit for example, symbolic of our call to build the kingdom of God. He may only give one tool, such as a center rule, to denote that God is our center. In any case, he surprises everyone with something—and even has a little “surprise” gift for himself! It has occurred to me more than once that his way of giving is a parable (of sorts) for God’s way of giving.
God enjoys gifting us. All creation, all creatures—all is gift. His gifts are practical in that they are designed to help us as we journey through this life into eternal life. His graces always give meaning to our existence. God gives us gifts that will serve us well as we search for meaningful lives of service and love.
God gives us the gift of life. He cares about us and has gifted us with life and love. We are created to care for his creation and for his creatures. Our care for creation is the practical side. Our love for one another is his meaning. Love is most surely God’s meaning. God is love (1 John 4:8), and as we are told in an often quoted verse: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
God gives his Son—the one true gift—-“the gift of gifts,” as Pope Francis said in his December 20th homily, “the undeserved gift that brings us salvation…the unpredictable surprise.” Yes, God gives us his Son, and in doing so—he gives us divine life—divine love. The Incarnation is for us—that we may become divine gift. God gives us his only Son, that we may receive the grace of divine love—and give him love, his own divine love, in return.
Yes, we are God’s gift to himself dear beautiful Daughters of Mary. Let us joyfully give our hearts to God—this is our true gift in prayer. Let us pray the prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola:
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding and my entire will
– all that I have and call my own.
You have given it all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours, do with it as you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Behold! I proclaim to you good news of great joy! (Luke 2:10)—and I offer many prayers for you and your families. Peace and hope be with you all during the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord.
Buon Natale—Happy Christmas,
Deb
Author Info
